The Punjab government is preparing to present its Rs 1,200 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 on June 13, with the Finance Department finalizing the arrangements.
According to reports, the budget documents have already been sent for printing, and Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman is currently drafting his speech for the upcoming budget presentation. Sources indicate that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed that no new taxes be introduced in the upcoming fiscal year.
Proposals from the Board of Revenue and the Punjab Revenue Authority suggesting new tax measures have been rejected. Instead, the government is focusing on reviewing existing taxes to assess possible changes to their rates.
The budget’s key allocations include increased funding for health, education, and tourism. The education budget will see an increase of Rs 110 billion compared to the previous year, while the health sector is set to receive an additional Rs 90 billion. The tourism sector is expected to receive a 600% increase in funding, with an estimated budget of Rs 35 billion.
One of the key initiatives under the new budget is the expansion of healthcare facilities in Lahore’s Nawaz Sharif Medical City, where additional hospitals will be built under a public-private partnership model. The provincial government is also planning extensive sanitation and clean drinking water schemes across Punjab.
Infrastructure development will be a major focus, with plans to expand the transport network to additional cities and undertake road and infrastructure projects in 66 cities across the province. The government aims to promote inclusive growth and enhance public services without imposing new tax burdens on the population.
